Calm reassurance, symptoms flares, and bizarre dreams. Oh my.

Hey everyone! So, I have been on my recovery journey consistently since October. I have known about TMS, Sarno and have been researching/learning since April of 2023. Had some pretty gnarly battles with fear and uncertainty which my past post history will show but I have since then calmed my fears with calm reassurances and would say I think I am doing well! Haha.

However, I have like 2 question for those who have fully recovered or those who are currently recovering by using mind body techniques:

1. Did your symptoms begin to go crazy once you really began doing the work?

I feel like my symptoms were relatively predictable before I began to consistently do the work, and now they have seemed to increase and become more frequent then in the past. I have heard of extinction bursts, but can they last days?? Haha. I have been also dealing with symptom imperatives but that, I simply laugh at it. While being consistent with my mind body techniques, I have broken out into hives, had lower back and neck pain, shoulder pain, nerve pain in random places, different pelvic symptoms that are not my usual, odd skin sensations, headaches and even CFS tried to sneak up on me! I thought I was coming down with the flu for two weeks before I caught on! When I read the symptoms for CFS, and understanding that CFS is almost always TMS, it was gone that next morning lol TMS is wiiiiiiiiild. haha.

2. While you were/are healing, did you have bizarre dreams?

This is a "symptom" (I am not sure what to call it lol) that I did not expect. I am currently doing meditation daily; I am exercising again; I am in trauma therapy and about to begin EMDR for my ACEs; I listen to one TMS related video a day just as a consistent reminder that I am safe; I have stopped all diets and eat whatever I want and have gone back to just living my life; I am also currently reading Claire Weekes' Hope and Help For Your Nerves (per Jan's recommendation. Thank you, Jan!) and The Body Keeps The Score per my therapists recommendation. I have been having many break throughs which I knew may lead to an increase in symptoms as I uncover my repressed emotions, but the dreams and nightmares?? Was not ready for those lol Has anyone else had this occurrence? I find that when I have difficult dreams/nightmares that I will wake up experiencing symptoms which has never happened to me before. I had always felt good in the mornings and the sensations would begin later in the day/evening. I assume that these dreams are simply "striking a nerve" (bah-dum cha) and that may be why I wake up with flares sometimes.

Mind body healing is so fascinating and I am teaching myself to have fun with this adventure as opposed of being scared of every sensation or thing that happens. However, I was simply curious about the above questions and I appreciate any comments or insights!

 

Hi @GhostlyMarie
Yes, the more work I do, the more symptoms are coming on stronger. (Grrr!)

Yes, I used to wake up every night with really bad symptoms for more than a year. I figured it was because I was dreaming about things that my subconscious wanted to work on. Lately, it’s been happening less and less and I think it’s because I’ve been meditating and calming my nervous system. And/Or maybe I’ve addressed a lot of things from journaling and therapy and my dreamworld is calming down a little. Who knows? Usually, I can’t remember my dreams. But every once in a while, I have a really bizarre or disturbing one that wakes me up.

 

1. Yes. The brain can produce any symptom, anywhere in the body. I either ignore it or use it as a sign of an emotion needing to be felt, and/or a reminder of unaware thinking that is generating...unconscious emotions. For me they usually don't last long, mostly seconds, but sometimes a few hours, rarely days if it's a big problem like I discussed in some other posts.

2. Many. I write them down. >1.5 years ago when I discovered Dr. Sarno's work, I had many nightmares. I still have some, not as frequently though.